Web folding mechanism



Feb. 10, 1948. H. w. FAEBER WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 10, 1948. H. w. FAEBER 2,435,331

WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 10, 1948. H. w. FAEBER 2,435,881

WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28. 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Arrows:

Feb. 10, 1948. H, FAEBER 2,435,881

WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .5296. 33 I TQ'QQ 5a 32 I N V EN TOR. fi l/Pi) #07525? 4; ATTOEATEYS Feb. 10, 1948. H. w. FAEBER 2,435,881

WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 JZIKS' 62054-7 I N VEN TOR. flvww Ill/7:25?

% AZTQRNEYJ Feb. 10, 1948. H w FAEBER 2,435,881

WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N V EN TOR. /%7/?RY Ill/52535? 5; ATTORNEYS Fatented Feb. 10, 1948 WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Barry W. Faeber, Larohmont, N. Y., assignor to Time, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 28, 1945, Serial No. 631,329

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for folding printed sheets of paper or other material at high speeds.

The machine used at present for folding sheets of paper by the method known as tuck and nip method comprises a tucker cylinder on which a tucker blade is flexibly mounted. This cylinder carries the cut-off sheet by means of pin points and/or grippers.

The blade tucks the center of the sheet between the open jaws of a mating jaw cylinder. The jaws close, thereby completing the fold, and as the two cylinders continue to rotate, the tucker blade is withdrawn from between the jaws, leaving the folded book or sheet or signature held in the jaws.

When the tucker blade withdraws from between the folding jaws, it tends to pry them open. This tendency is more pronounced at high speeds because, due to its inertia, the blade, although flexibly mounted, cannot follow in line with the closed jaws. Consequently, the blade has a tendency to pull the tucked sheets out of the jaws. For this reason it has not been possible to exceed the web speed of approximately 1,000 F. P, M. with folding machines of this type.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a folding mechanism in which the tucked and folded sheets are held securely in the jaw cylinder as the tucker blade is withdrawn.

It is a further object of this invention to provide mechanical means for operating the folding jaws and the holding pins.

Another object of this invention is to provide electrical means for operating the folding jaws and holding pins and/or for operating tucker blades, retaining pins and gripping devices carried by serially arranged co-operating cylinders, in timed relation.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide pins for piercing and then holding the folded sheets as the jaws are pried open by the withdrawal of the tucker blade.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the cylinders of a folding machine in which my invention is incorporated;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through a removable self-contained jaw and pin box;

Figure 3 is a top plan view or a portion of Figure 2, showing the holding pin and jaw 2 3 Flgure4isasectionofthelinel-lofl'iguto Figure 5 is a top plan view or the arm for operating the pin block;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2, showing the :pin in withdrawn position and the movable jaw in open position;

Figure 7 is a section view, showing the co-operative relation between the tucker blade and pin and box at the beginning of a folding operation.

Figure 8 shows the same parts as the sheet is being tucked into the box:

Figure 9 shows the position of these parts after the tucking operation has been completed and the pin advanced through the fold;

Figure 10 shows the position of these puts as the tucker blade is about to be withdrawn from the jaws;

Figure 11 shows the position of these parts after the tucker blade has been withdrawn from the jaws;

Figure 12 is an end view of the cam follower arms for operating the pins and movable jaws;

Figure 13 is a transverse section through the stationary cam co-operating with the cam followers shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a diagram of the cam grooves of the cam shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view of electromagnetic means for operating pins for conveying sheets to the tucking and folding cylinders; and

Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 are similar views of electromagnetic means for respectively operating tucker blades, grippers, folding blades and holding pins.

My improvements may be incorporated in a folding machine of the type and construction diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. Individual printed paper ribbons 22 arecollected together by nipping rollers 23 and then moved downwardly toward cutting cylinders 24 and 25. The cutting cylinder 24 is provided with cutting blades 26 which enter knife slots 21 in the cylinder 2! and cut the ribbons or web into two page long cut-offs 2!. The forward end of each cut-oi! is pierced by pin points on the cylinder and transferred to pin points 3| on the tucking cylinder 22 driven in timed relation to the cylinders 24 and 25 as by intermeshing gears, not shown.

The tucking cylinder 32 is provided with tucker blades 33, which are so located that they engage the web and sheets at the folding line between the two pages of the cut-off. The cylinder 22- rotates in mesh, not shown, with a jaw and pin cylinder II which is provided with rectan l r A longitudinally extending grooves receiving self contained jaw and pin boxes "31." These boxes carry shafts 39 which support movable jaws 4|, co-operating with fixed jaws I, for co-operation with the tucker blades 33.

Also carried by these boxes are shafts." which actuate pin operating arms 44 to force the pins 45 through the folded portion of the. sheet or web. A mechanism which will be described later is provided for operating the movable jaws and the pins in proper time relation, so that the pins will pierce the folded sheet just prior to the withdrawal of the tucker blade, and hold the folded sheet in the jaws as the tucker blade pries the jaws open during its withdrawal from the jaws.

The folded sheets are then carried under cylinders 45, which roll down the folded sheets and hold them in full folded condition as they are fed under grippers 41 carried by delivery cylinders 48 and 49 which later deposit the folded sheets onto delivery conveyors 50 and 5|. The delivery cylinders and conveyors are driven in time relation to the jaw and pin cylinder by any suitable means.

I As disclosed in Figure 1, the pin and jaw cylinder 35 may be provided with four longitudinally extending grooves or channels in which four jaw and pin boxes 31 may be seated and secured in any desired manner. Each of these pin boxes comprises a casting shown in transverse section, Figures 2 and 6, and is provided with end walls in which the jaw shaft 39 and pin shaft 43 are suitably journaled, and with an interior chamber 5| in which the pin and jaw operating arms and movable jaws operate, and with a longitudinally extending slot 5| into which the movable jaws ll extend and operate as shown in Figures 2 and 6. y j

The jaw carrying shaft 38 is provided with a right angular groove in which is seated a jaw supporting blade 53 which may be of increasing thickness toward its outer edge as shown and on which the movable law 4!, which is here shown as a spring blade, is held by a washer blade 55 and bolts 55 which secure the jaw H and the blade 53 upon the shaft 39. The movable jaw 4| and washer blade 55 preferably consist of several narrow sections instead of continuous blades. The fixed jaw shown at 40 is preferably aseparate element as indicated at 58 suitably secured in the casting 31, so that it may be made of a wearresisting material and may be readily repaired and replaced, see Figures 8 and 9.

As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the shaft 39 may be provided with an operating arm 60 actuated by a spring 6| surrounding a rod 52 pivoted on the end of the arm 60, and the compression of the spring may be adjusted by an adjustable collar 53 on the rod 82. This spring is employed to move the flexible Jaw 4| from the open position shown in Figure 6 to the closed position shown in Figure 2. It may co-operate with an open cam and furnish the entire power to move the jaw into closing positi n, or it; may cooperate with a box cam later de ribed so as to assist the cam in moving the flexible jaw 4| into closed position. The pin is preferably carried on a sliding block 65 which has converging sides, Figure 4, engaging converging sides of a groove 56 in a block 51 (see also Figure 3) secured to the jaw box by a bolt 68. The groove 55 is provided with a hearing plate 59 on which the sliding block 65 oper ates.

As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the pin actuating arm 44 operates in an opening 12 in the jaw box device carried by the cylinder.

of which is shown at 18, Figure 13. Secured to the frame 'l8.of the machine is a cam disc provided with cam grooves 82 and 83 as shown in Figures 12 and 13 constructed so as to operate the jaws and pins in the time relation shown in Figure 14.

Each, of the shafts 39 is provided with an operating or cam follower arm 85 which carries a roll 86 operating in the cam groove 82. Each of the pin operating shafts 43 is provided with a cam follower arm 90 which carries a roll 9i operating in the cam groove 83.

As is now*understood, each of the jaws will be opened or closed once during every rotation of the cylinder 35, and each of the pins will be moved forward and withdrawn once during every rotation of the cylinder 35. As appears from Figures 12 and 14, and regarding the 0 line in Figure 12 as a point of reference, the jaws are open, and the pins are withdrawn as the cylinder passes this point of reference. The jaws will start closing, and immediately after the closing operation has begun, the pins will be advanced, and they pierce the fold and will be fully advanced immediately after the jaws have been completely closed. Then later, after the tucker blades have been withdrawn, the pins will'be withdrawn, as

the jaws can then retain the folded sheets until they are gripped by the gripping means on the delivery cylinder 48, Figure 1.

If it is desired to deliver folded sheets alternately to two delivery carriers 5ll and 5|, then the cam plate 80, Figure 13, will operate one pair of diametrically oppositely located jaws and holding pins to fold and deliver alternate folded sheets to the delivery cylinder 48. The other pair of jaws and holding pins will be operated by a cam plate, not shown, carried by the frame at the other end of the cylinder 35 in which the high sections in the cam grooves are so arranged as to close the jaws and move the pins to pierce the paper at the same time as under control of the cam 80 but in which the cam groove actuating the jaw will withdraw the jaw 90 sooner so as to release the folded sheet to be gripped by the gripper 41 on the delivery cylinder 49.

All of the movable pins and grippers and the tucker blades may be operated by cams operating in proper timed relation.

This invention also includes the provision of electromagnetic means for operating the various elements carried by the system of cylinders shown in Figure 1. This means will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 19 in which the cylinders are shown diagrammatically and in which the cylinders and elements carried by them bear the same reference characters as in'Figure 1. Each cylinder is provided with one or more slip rings or distributors, one for each operated Each distributor includes a feed ring I00 and an interrupted ring llll having a conducting segment of a length as indicated to hold the associated electromagnet I02 operated for the required length of time.

Each of the pins associated with the cylinders 25 and 32, Figure 15, may be carried by an arm I05 operated by the armature arm I08 of the assassr electromagnet I02. A spring I01 is provided to return the pin into its disengaging position.

The tucker blade 33, Figure 16, may be pivoted on the end of a pivotally mounted arm I I pressed radially inwardly by a spring III and forced ra-,

dially outwardly by a wedge armature H2 operated by the electromagnet I02. A spring H2- returns the armature into its home position to permit the tucker blade to be withdrawn into the cylinder.

The gripper 41, Figure 17, may be operated by apivoted lever H6 operated in one direction by the electromagnet I02 and in the opposite direction by a; spring 1. p

The folding jaw 4|, Figure 18, may have its operating arm 60' moved in one direction by the electromagnet I02 and in the opposite direction by a spring H8.

The holding pin 45, Figure 19, may be operated by the electromagnet I02 which attracts an armature arm IN on the shaft 43 to operate the pin to pierce the folded sheet and this pin may be restored by a spring I22.

The pins 21 on the cylinder 25 are operated for a slightly shorter period than the pins 3| on the cylinder 32 as indicated by the relative lengths of the interrupted portions in Figure with which reference numerals and 32 are associated.

Likewise the timing of the grippers associated with the cylinders 48 and 49 is different as indicated by reference numerals 48 and 49 associated with the interrupted portions of the segmented ring IOI.

As indicated at a, c and b, (1 Figure 18, the jaws in positions b, d Figure 1 are opened sooner than the jaws in positions a, c to release the folded sheets for transfer to the grippers of the cylinder 49.

As all of the cylinders 25, 32, 35, 48 and 40 are geared together, the distributors for the var ious operated elements on the cylinders are so oriented or angularly positioned with reference to the vertical diameters of the cylinders in the positions shown in Figure 1 as to provide for their proper co-operation.

Operation In Figure 1 a cut-01f sheet, shown in 29, is advanced over the surface of the jaw cylinder when thepin and movable jaw are in the position shown in Figure 6. As the cylinders 32 and 35 rotate, a tucker blade 33, which engages the mid-section of the cut-oil! sheet will approach a jaw opening in the cylinder 35 as shown in Figure 7. As the cylinders continue their rotation, the tucker blade 33 and the fixed and movable jaws and H will be in the position shown in Figure 8 in which the mid-section of the cutoff sheet has been partly tucked into the opening between the jaws. As the cylinders continue rotating, the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 9 in which the tucking operation has been completed, and the movable jaw 40 has been moved farther to the left, and the pin 4| has been pushed through the folded portion of the cut-off sheet to retain the folded portion in position between the jaws when the tucker blade 30 is being withdrawn as shown in Figure 10. It is noted that as the tucker blade 33 is withdrawn, the flexible jaw 4| is pried away from the fixed jaw 40, and that in prior machines the friction between the tucker blade 33 and the folded sides was sumcient to pull the fold out of the opening between the jaws, especially at high speeds of operation.

As the rotation of the cylinder continues, the tucker blade 30, Figure 11, is completely withdrawn from the opening between the jaws, and the flexible jaw II is moved to the left into position shown in this figure in order that the pin ll may be withdrawn and the jaw ll alone hold the folded sheet on the cylinder 35 whereby the grippers 41 on the delivery cylinders ll may grip the folded portion of the cut-oi! sheet and withdraw the same from the cylinder 30.

While I have disclosed my invention by a detailed description of preferred embodiments illustrated, it is to be understood that! reserve the right to all such changes as fall within the principles of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

a I claim: a

1. Ina paper folding mechanism, the combination of a tucking cylinder, a tucker blade thereon. a co-operating jaw cylinder, relatively movable jaws on said jaw cylinder adapted to receive said tucker blade, means for opening said jaws to receive said tucker blade and paper tucked therein by said tucker blade and for closing said jaws against said paper and tucker blade to fold the paper and then to grip the fold after said tucker blade has been withdrawn and pins operable independently of said jaws for holding the fold of the paper withing said jaws during the withdrawal of said tucker blade.

2. In a paper folding mechanism the combination of a tucking cylinder, a tucker blade thereon,-

e, co-operating jaw cylinder, relatively movable jaws on said cylinder co-operating with said tucker blade, means for opening said jaws to receive said tucker blade and paper tucked therein by -said tucker blade and for closing said jaws against said paper and tucker blade to fold the paper and to then grip the fold after said tucker blade has been withdrawn, pins movable independently of said jaws for holding the fold of the paper within said jaws during withdrawal of said tucker blade, and means for forcing said pins through said fold prior to the withdrawal of said tucker blade.

3. In a paper folding mechanism, the combination of a tucking cylinder, a tucker blade thereon, a co-operating jaw cylinder, relatively movable jaws on said cylinder co-operating with said tucker blade, means for opening said jaws to receive said tucker blade and paper tucked therein by said tucker blade and for closing said jaws against said paper and tucker blade to fold the paper and then to grip the fold after said tucker blade has been withdrawn, pins for holding the fold of the paper within Said jaws during withdrawal of said tucker blade,and means for forcing said pins through said fold prior to the withdrawal of said tucker blade and for withdrawing said pins from said fold prior to the opening of said jaws.

4. In a paper folding mechanism, the combination of a tucking cylinder, a tucker blade thereon, a co-operating jaw cylinder, relatively movable jaws on said cylinder co-operating with said tucker blade, cam means for opening said jaws to receive said tucker blade and paper tucked therein by said tucker blade, and for closing said jaws against said paper and tucker blade to fold the paper and then to grip the fold after said tucker blade has been withdrawn, pins for holding the fold of the paper within said jaws during withdrawal of said tucker blade, and stationary cam means for actuating said pins.

ently of said jaws for holding the fold of the paper within said jaws during withdrawal of said tucker blade, said yieldable jaws gripping said fold after withdrawal of said tucker blade.

6. In a paper folding mechanism, the combination of a tucking cylinder, a tucker blade thereon,

a jaw cylinder, jaws on said cylinder. electro-,

magnetic means for opening said jaws to receive paper tucked therein by said tucker blade and for closing said jaws against said paper and tucker blade to complete the fold, pins for holding the fold of the paper within said jaws during withdrawal of said tucker blade, and electromagnetic means for forcing said pins through said fold after said fold has been completed and prior to the withdrawal of said tucker blade.

7. In a web folding machine, the combination of a tucking cylinder, a tucker blade thereon, a folding jaw and pin cylinder, relatively movable jaws and a pin associated with and movable independently of said jaws on said latter cylinder, electromagnetic means for opening said jaws to receive a sheet tucked therein by said tucker blade and for closing said jaws against said sheet and tucker blade, and electromagnetic means for operating said pin to pierce the fold of said sheet after a sheet is tucked into said jaws and prior to the withdrawal of said tucker blade and to hold said sheet during the withdrawal of said tucker blade, and for withdrawing said pin prior to the opening of said jaws.

8. In a web folding machine, a jaw and pin cylinder, relatively movable jaws carried by said cylinder, a movable pin carried by said cylinder and associated with said jaws, electromagnetic means for closing said jaws and electromagnetic means for then operating said pin to pierce a sheet folded by said jaws.

9. In a web folding machine, the combination of a folding jaw and pin cylinder, relatively movable jaws thereon, a movable pin associated with said movable jaws, a delivery cylinder, grippers on said delivery cylinder and electromagnetic means for operating said jaws, pin and grippers in timed relation to effect a transfer of sheets from said folding jaw and pin cylinder to said delivery cylinder.

10. In a web folding machine, the combination of a folding jaw and pin cylinder, relatively movable jaws thereon, a movable pin associated with said movable jaws, a delivery cylinder, grippers on said delivery cylinder, a carrier associated with said delivery cylinder, and electromagnetic means for operating said jaws, pin and grippers in timed relation to effect a transfer of sheets from said folding jaw and pin cylinder to said delivery cylinder and to operate said grippers to deposit sheets on said carrier.

11. In a web folding machine the combination of a folding cylinder, a plurality of relatively movable jaws thereon, a plurality of movable pins thereon, one associated with each of said movable jaws, a pair of delivery cylinders, grippers on said delivery cylinders, a carrier associated with each of said delivery cylinders and electromagnetic means for operating said jaws, pin and grippers in timed relation to transfer alternate sheets to one delivery cylinder and the other sheets to the other delivery cylinder, and for operating said grippers to release the sheets and deposit them on said carriers.

12. In a web folding machine, the combination of a folding jaw and pin cylinder, a plurality of relatively movable jaws thereon, a plurality of movable pins thereon, one associated with each of saidmovable jaws, a pair of delivery cylinders grippers on said delivery cylinders and electromagnetic means for closing said jaws and actuating said pins to pierce the fold of a sheet of paper and for subsequently withdrawing said pins and operating said jaws and grippers in timed relation to transfer alternate sheets from said folding jaw and pin cylinder to one of said delivery cylinders and the other sheets to the other of said delivery cylinders.

13. In a web folding machine, a jaw and pin cylinder, relatively movable jaws carried by said cylinder, a movable pin carried by said cylinder and associated with said jaws, electromagnetic means for closing and opening said jaws, and electromagnetic means for operating said pin to pierce a sheet folded by said jaws after said jaws are closed, and then to withdraw said pin prior to the opening of said jaws.

14. In a web folding machine, the combination of a folding jaw and pin cylinder, a plurality of relatively movable jaws thereon, a plurality of movable pins thereon, one associated with each of said movable jaws, a delivery cylinder, grippers on said delivery cylinder, and electromagnetic means for operating said jaws, pins and grippers in timed relation to transfer sheets from said folding jaw and pin cylinder to said delivery cylinder.

HARRY W. FAEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,261 Brown et a1 Apr. 10, 1917 1,535,686 Roesen Apr. 28, 1925 1,701,055 Sheldon Feb. 5, 1929 1,946,874 Nicholas Feb. 13, 1934 2,211,046 Barber Aug. 13, 1940 2,268,037 Kahn Dec. 30, 1941 2,353,609 Zuckerman July 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 168,840 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1918 191,422 Germany Dec. 7, 1905 

